Dr Raja Muhammad Khan

All the cosmetic efforts of Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Indian Occupied Kashmir, are appearing to be failing to convince the powerful Indian Army and bureaucracy for the withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), at least from some parts of occupied territory. AFSPA was invoked in occupied Kashmir in 1990, after mass Kashmiri struggle for the freedom from Indian occupation. It empowers the Indian Armed Forces, “to shoot at sight or arrest people without a warrant.” Nevertheless, this act of Omar Abdullah is a political move, for the satisfaction of his people, with whom he promised during his election campaign, yet it is a positive gesticulation of the puppet regime. Despite his meeting with local Indian Army commanders, Indian Army Chief, General VK Singh, Defence and Home Minister and finally, the Indian PM, Omar Abdullah has not gained any worthwhile success in his efforts.

Indian Army and Indian Dfence Minister AK Antony, seems to be strongly resisting the move and perhaps are able to convince the Chief Minister of IHK for not pursuing the issue any further. Antony adviced Omar Abdullah, rather to be impatient, being sensitive in nature, deal the issue in a mature and cool way. Indian Defence Minister, however, said that, talks with Omar Abdullah remained “inconclusive.” Meanwhile voices within the ruling coalitions are being raised that, “If even after 20 years we are not able to lift AFSPA from some parts of J&K, then what are we doing all this time.”

Earlier, the young Abdullah was perhaps sure for a success at least for a partial withdrawal of AFSPA from some districts, otherwise remained less disturbed. He was so determine to get the success that he said that “no is not an option for him” and furthermore, “I have the authority. The elected state government of any state has the authority. In this case (revocation of AFSPA), the authority rests with the governor who would act on the basis of the state government’s recommendations.” As a face saving, the Chief Minister even requested the Indian authorities to revoke these powers from two districts of Valley and two from Jammu province: In Vale of Kashmir; Srinagar and Budgam, and in Jammu; from Jammu and Kathua districts.

Indeed, Indian Army intends continuing its forceful occupation of the state, which India feels politically impossible. On the face of it, Indian Army is portraying a picture that, if today, these inhuman laws are revoked, it would have no authority to deal with the insurgency. It is also misleading the people and so-called leadership of Occupied Kashmir that, such an act would provide space for the Kashmiri fighting for their right of self-determination to restart their armed struggle against Indian occupation of the state like 1990s. Although, Indian Army accepts that, there is no infiltration of armed Kashmiris from across the LoC, yet, an impression is being created among locals as if Pakistan would send the armed bands in occupied state for another upheaval.

Indeed, the ground reality is that, Kashmir is a hard net to be cracked by India. It failed to keep the people of this state with it willfully; otherwise, sixty-four years were sufficient to convince the people to live under Indian rule. As proved by historical facts, forceful occupation of a state through military means even by great empires and super power of the times is not a long-term solution of such issues. The will of the people is indeed the ultimate instrument for a durable solution. India rather misleading the world opinion and keeping the Kashmiris as prisoners should respect the international covenant, the UN Charter and give Kashmiris their right of self-determination.

Indian Armed Forces have killed over 100,000 Kashmiris since the start of this indigenous Kashmir uprising in 1990. Besides, thousands of mass graves have been found in various parts of the occupied valley. According to international analysts and locals, “The grave sites are believed to contain the remains of victims of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses which occurred in the context of the military operation persisting in the state since 1989 by the Indian security forces.” Mr Ali Raza Syed, President Kashmir Centre of EU has emphasized the UN Secretary General to order an independent probe of these graves as done in the case of Bosnia and other Balkan states.

As highlighted by famous Indian writer and human rights activist, Arundhati Roy, during her presentation on, ‘Kashmir: the case for freedom’, in Asia Society, “Kashmir is one of the most protracted and bloody occupations in the world and one of the most ignored. While India brutalizes Kashmir in so many ways, that occupation brutalizes the Indians. She emphasized the world community that, rather to remain silent over Indian brutalities on Kashmirs, voice in the UN body for their right to self- determination, as they “have the right to choose who they want to be.”Renowned Indian novelist and political activist Arundhati Roy has made a strong case for right to self-determination to people of Jammu and Kashmir before an American audience. As she is eyewitness to some of the Indian brutalities and has known the ground realities from the locals who suffered during these long years, therefore, she advocates, that, “Under the Indian military rule in Kashmir, freedom of speech is non-existent, and human rights abuses were routine. Elections were rigged and press controlled. The lives of Kashmiris were made miserable by gun-toting security personnel, who harassed and terrorized people with impunity.” In the opinion of this realist Hindu writer, and many others, rather revoking the AFSPA from the Indian Occupied Kashmir, there is an immediate requirement of the demilitarization of Kashmir. After all, what positive and constructive role 0.7m Indian Army is performing there. Since 1990, shoot to kill, illegal arrests and dentations, torture and rape are a routine in Kashmir.

In this highly awake and globalize world, India cannot keep Kashmir under its illegal occupation anymore. Indian planners, its powerful military and so-called secular and democratic rulers should not forget the reality that, historically, Kashmir has neither been part of India nor it is going to be so in the days to come. Indian Secularism is a “misnomer” in India. Kashmiris are resorting to a peaceful political struggle after 2002. India and world should fulfill their promises for the right of self-determination.

The only tangible and realistic measure would be the demilitarization of the state by pulling out 0.7m Indian Army from occupied Kashmir. This CBM should give way to the end of Indian rule over the state by asking Kashmiris their will through impartial UN body. This act would indeed be a win win situation for all stakeholders; the Kashmiris, Pakistan and India. Besides, this would promote peace, political stability; ensure security by reducing arms race, and economics prosperity in South Asia, especially in India and Pakistan. Leaving aside this easy path, why should India opt for a difficult and impracticable passageway?

—The writer is an analyst of international relations.

Rupee becomes more anemic

MINISTER for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh told National Assembly on Friday that the value of Pak Rupee againt US dollar depreciated cumulatively by 28% since March, 2008 uptill November 10, 2011. According to him, the reason for depreciation of exchange rate was widening of the current account deficit during the period because of large trade deficit due to higher demand for imports and rising international commodity prices particularly that of oil.

In the first place the percentage of depreciation given by the Minister is questionable as the Pakistani currency shed its value by staggering 32 rupee against green-back during the said period, as the parity rose from just Rs 58 to about Rs 90 — close to fifty percent loss in its value. The factor attributed by the Minister might have some relevance but it is because of the overall economic policies of the Government that have played havoc with our currency. The question arises as to what the Government has done to arrest this steep fall in the value of rupee. You can differ with former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz but one must give him credit for maintaining the exchange rate at the comfortable level of Rs 58 or 60 a dollar throughout his tenure despite rumours circulating at that time that the parity could reach the alarming figure of 100. Why you are unable to stabilize the rupee and that too when all other currencies including Indian rupee, BD taka and even Afghani is appreciating vis-a-vis dollar. Regrettably, we have been allowing depreciation of rupee on the false assumption that it would lead to increase in our exports, a hope, which did not materialize and instead we ended up importing costlier raw material and goods putting additional burden on the industry and consumers. We are sorry to point out that Dr Hafeez Sheikh has yet to come up to expectations that people pinned on his person when he was assigned the onerous responsibility of finance and economic affairs.

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what humbugs we r,who pretend to live for beauty and never see the dawn :)